And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for…
““And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus — for the present let us devote ourselves to love and to the enjoyment of one another. Never yet have I been so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as I am at this moment for yourself — not even when I was in love with the wife of Ixion who bore me Pirithoüs, peer of gods in counsel, nor yet with Danaë, the daintly ankled daughter of Acrisius, who bore me the famed hero Perseus. Then there was the daughter of Phonenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus. There was Semele, and Alcmena in Thebes by whom I begot my lion-hearted son Heracles, while Samele became mother to Bacchus, the comforter of mankind. There was queen Demeter again, and lovely Leto, and yourself — but with none of these was I ever so much enamored as I now am with you.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Zeus declares his love for Hera surpasses all past passions for mortals and deities, emphasizing present devotion over future duties.
In simple terms: Zeus prioritizes love over obligations.
Key Takeaway
Love can eclipse duty.
Themes
love
divine relationships
priority
passion
choice
devotion
Mood
passionate
reverent
intimate
Type
mythic monologue
declarative
When to use this quote
- courtship between gods
- conflict between duty and desire
- celebration of a lover
- divine council deliberations
Key Concepts
mythology
hierarchy
emotional hierarchy
mythic narrative
Practical Applications
- literary analysis of mythic love
- creative writing inspiration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love reshape divine responsibilities?
- What does Zeus' confession reveal about power dynamics?